Image capture apparatus, method for setting mask image, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A transmission apparatus that transmits an image to be distributed to a reception apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a plurality of settings that include resolution of a captured image and that are used for generating the image to be distributed, a reception unit configured to receive, from the reception apparatus, specification information for specifying one of the plurality of held settings in relation to superimposition of the mask image and superimposition information indicating a position at which the mask image is superimposed upon the image to be distributed generated in accordance with the one of the settings specified by the specification information, and a setting unit configured to set a position at which the mask image is superimposed upon the captured image on the basis of the specified one of the settings and the superimposition information received by the reception unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/358,877, filed on Nov. 22, 2016, which is a continuation, and claimsthe benefit, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/065,229, presentlypending and filed on Oct. 28, 2013 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,538,145on Jan. 3, 2017, which is a Continuation of International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2013/063243, filed May 13, 2013, which claims thebenefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-115763, filed May 21,2012, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image capture apparatus capable ofdistributing a captured image, and, more particularly, to a function ofmasking an image to be distributed by the image capture apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, a mask processing function for making it impossible toidentify a region of a captured image at a distribution destination isprovided. The mask processing function may be a function such as, forexample, a process for blacking out a target region using OSD (on-screendisplay), a process for decreasing the image quality of the targetregion, or a filtering process.

On the other hand, a common standard established by the ONVIF is knownas a standard protocol for standardizing a communication interfacebetween a network camera and an external apparatus connected to thenetwork camera through a network (NPL 1). The ONVIF is an acronym forOpen Network Video Interface Forum.

In the common standard established by the ONVIF, camera parameters thatmay be set for the network camera are defined.

For example, the common standard established by the ONVIF defines amedia profile. The media profile is configured by a set of mediaconfigurations. The media profile is used by a client to set theproperty of a media stream using a device. The media profile includes,for example, the following setting values: video source configuration;audio source configuration; video encoder configuration; audio encoderconfiguration; PTZ configuration; video analytics configuration;metadata configuration; audio output configuration; and audio decoderconfiguration. For example, the video source configuration includesreferences of a video source and bounds that define an image to betransmitted to the client as a stream.

CITATION LIST Non Patent Literature

NPL 1 ONVIF Specification (http://www.onvif.org/specs/DocMap.html)

An object of the present invention is to propose an image captureapparatus, a method for capturing an image, and a recording medium thatare suitable to superimpose a mask image upon a captured image usingcamera parameters used for generating the captured image and parametersfor setting a mask.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In order to solve the above problem, a transmission apparatus in thepresent invention is a transmission apparatus that transmits an image tobe distributed, which is part or entirety of a captured image, to areception apparatus. The transmission apparatus includes a holding unitconfigured to hold a plurality of settings that include resolution ofthe captured image and that are used for generating the image to bedistributed, a reception unit configured to receive, from the receptionapparatus, specification information for specifying one of the pluralityof held settings in relation to superimposition of the mask image andsuperimposition information indicating a position at which the maskimage is superimposed upon the image to be distributed generated inaccordance with the one of the settings specified by the specificationinformation, and a setting unit configured to set a position at whichthe mask image is superimposed upon the captured image on the basis ofthe specified one of the settings and the superimposition informationreceived by the reception unit.

Detailed configuration of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings and the following embodiments.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the appearance of a system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the structure of parameters.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the structure of parameters.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a command sequence.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a command sequence.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a command sequence.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a command sequence.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating calculation of coordinates.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a mask parameter process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a mask parameter process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a mask parameter process.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a security camera (image captureapparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1101denotes a mechanism that moves a lens in a pan direction, 1102 denotes amechanism that moves the lens in a tilt direction, and 1103 denotes azoom mechanism.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a systemincluding a monitoring camera (image capture apparatus) 1000. 2000denotes a client apparatus, which is an external device in the presentinvention. The monitoring camera 1000 and the client apparatus 2000 areconnected to each other through an IP network 1500 such that themonitoring camera 1000 and the client apparatus 2000 are able tocommunicate with each other. The monitoring camera 1000 transmits andreceives data in accordance with an ONVIF specification. The clientapparatus 2000 transmits, to the monitoring camera 1000, variouscommands such as a change of an image capture parameter, driving of apan head, and start of video streaming, which will be described later.The monitoring camera 1000 transmits responses to these commands andvideo streaming to the client apparatus 2000. The monitoring camera 1000transmits an image to be distributed, which is part or the entirety of acaptured image, to a reception apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of thesecurity camera (image capture apparatus) according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, 1001 denotes a control unit that controls the entirety of themonitoring camera 1000. The control unit 1001 controls a mask processingunit 1007, which will be described later, and sets a position at which amask image is superimposed upon a captured image on the basis of one ofvideo source configurations specified by the client apparatus 2000 andsuperimposition information (mask 5004) received from the clientapparatus 2000. The control unit 1001 is configured by, for example, aCPU, which is a computer.

1002 denotes a storage unit (memory). The storage unit 1002 is used asstorage regions for various pieces of data that mainly include a storageregion used for programs to be executed by the control unit 1001, aworking region while the programs are being executed, and a storageregion for image data generated by an image capture unit 1003, whichwill be described later. In the first embodiment, the storage unit 1002holds a plurality of settings (video source configurations) that includethe resolution of a captured image and that are used for generating animage to be distributed.

1003 denotes an image capture unit. The image capture unit 1003 convertsan analog signal obtained by capturing an image of a subject intodigital data, as well as generating image data regarding the capturedimage by performing a process for compressing data using an ADCT(adaptive discrete cosine transform) or the like and outputting theimage data to the storage unit 1002. After outputting the captured imageto the storage unit 1002, the image capture unit 1003 issues an imageobtaining event to the control unit 1001.

1004 denotes a communication unit. The communication unit 1004 is usedfor receiving control commands from the external device or transmittingresponses to the control commands to the external device. In the firstembodiment, the communication unit 1004 receives specificationinformation (video source configuration token) for specifying one of aplurality of held settings. In addition, the communication unit 1004receives, from the client apparatus 2000, the superimpositioninformation (mask 5004) indicating a position at which a mask image issuperimposed upon an image to be distributed generated in accordancewith the one of the settings specified by the specification information.The specification information and the superimposition information arereceived in relation to the superimposition of the mask image. Forexample, a mask generation command (create privacy mask command)including the specification information and the superimpositioninformation is received from a client. Alternatively, for example, avideo specification set command (set video configuration command)including the specification information and the superimpositioninformation is received from the client.

1006 denotes an image capture control unit. The image capture controlunit 1006 is used for controlling the pan mechanism 1101, the tiltmechanism 1102, and the zoom mechanism 1103 in accordance with values ofpan angle, tilt angle, and zoom magnification input from the controlunit 1001. In addition, the image capture control unit 1006 providescurrent values of pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom magnification inaccordance with a request from the control unit 1001.

1007 denotes a mask processing unit. The mask processing unit 1007stores the pan angle, the tilt angle, and the zoom magnification inputfrom the control unit 1001 to identify the position of a mask, and theposition of pixels of the mask in an image capture range of the imagecapture unit 1003 in corresponding pan, tilt, and zoom states. The maskprocessing unit 1007 then provides the mask at an appropriate positionof image data output from the image capture unit 1003 on the basis ofthe latest pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom magnification. The maskprocessing unit 1007 includes a validation flag for each mask, andperforms control such that a mask is not output when the flag indicatesfalse.

Although the internal configuration of the monitoring camera 1000 hasbeen described with reference to FIG. 2, the processing blocksillustrated in FIG. 2 describe an example of a security camera accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the internalconfiguration is not limited to this. The internal configuration may bemodified and altered in various ways without deviating from the scope ofthe present invention, such as by including an audio input unit.

The names and the content of commands, parameters, and the like used inthis embodiment will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 3A illustrates the structure of parameters held by the monitoringcamera 1000 according to this embodiment.

A media profile 6100 is a set of parameters for storing various settingitems of the monitoring camera while associating the setting items withone another. The media profile 6100 holds a profile token, which is anID of the media profile 6100, a video source configuration 6102, and avideo encoder configuration 6103. Furthermore, the media profile 6100holds a PTZ configuration 6104 and links to various setting itemsincluding an encoder of an image to be distributed and an encoder ofsound. The storage unit 1002 holds a media profile including the videosource configuration used for generating an image to be distributed, thePTZ configuration used for determining an image capture direction of theimage capture unit that captures an image, and the like.

A video source 6101 is a group of parameters indicating the performanceof an image capture sensor included in the monitoring camera. The videosource 6101 includes a video source token, which is an ID of the videosource 6101, and resolution indicating the resolution of image data thatmay be output by the image capture sensor.

The video source configuration 6102 is a group of parameters thatassociate the video source 6101 included in the monitoring camera withthe media profile 6100. The video source configuration 6102 includesbounds that specify a portion of image data output from the video source6101 to be extracted and used as an image to be distributed. Details ofthe bounds will be described later. Thus, the video source configuration6102 includes references of a first parameter and a second parameter.The first parameter is the video source 6101 including the resolution ofa captured image. The second parameter is the bounds indicating anextraction range in which an image to be distributed, which is to betransmitted to a client, is extracted from a captured image havingresolution according to the first parameter.

The video encoder configuration 6103 is a group of parameters thatassociate settings relating to video compression with the media profile6100. The monitoring camera 1000 distributes, to the client apparatus2000, image data output on the basis of the content of the video sourceconfiguration 6102. The distribution is performed in accordance with aparameter such as a video compression method (for example, JPEG orH.264), a frame rate, or resolution set in the video encoderconfiguration 6103.

The PTZ configuration 6104 is a group of parameters that associatesettings relating to the pan mechanism 1101, the tilt mechanism 1102,and the zoom mechanism 1103 of the monitoring camera 1000 with the mediaprofile 6100. The PTZ configuration 6104 includes information regardinga coordinate system representing the actual value of pan angle, theactual value of tilt angle, and the actual value of zoom magnificationin the pan mechanism, the tilt mechanism, and the zoom mechanism,respectively.

A privacy mask 6105 is a group of parameters that hold a list ofparameters relating to a mask. The privacy mask 6105 includes a privacymask token, which is an ID of the privacy mask 6105, a name, which isthe name of a privacy mask construction, and a mask, which specifies theposition and the size of the mask at three or more points using apolygon. Furthermore, the privacy mask 6105 includes an enabled flag,which specifies whether or not to display the mask on an image to bedistributed, a color, which specifies the color of the mask, and PTZdesignation, which identifies the position of the pan head.

The PTZ designation includes a PTZ configuration token that specifiesthe PTZ configuration 6104, which includes a definition of thecoordinate system for representing the orientation (pan and tilt) of thepan head and the zoom magnification. Furthermore, the PTZ designationincludes a position that specifies the orientation of the pan head andthe zoom magnification using the coordinate system indicated by thespecified PTZ configuration. The PTZ designation is used as positionalinformation for identifying the position of a captured image in an imagecapture possible range, in which the image capture unit 1003 may capturean image.

FIG. 5 illustrates a typical command sequence between the monitoringcamera 1000 and the client apparatus 2000 according to this embodimentfrom a beginning of setting to distribution of an image.

7100 denotes a transaction of a get video source configurations command.As a result of this command, the client apparatus 2000 obtains a list ofvideo source configurations 6102 held by the monitoring camera 1000.

7101 denotes a transaction of a get video encoder configurationscommand. As a result of this command, the client apparatus 2000 obtainsa list of video encoder configurations 6103 held held by the monitoringcamera 1000.

7102 denotes a transaction of a get configurations command. As a resultof this command, the client apparatus 2000 obtains a list of PTZconfigurations 6104 held by the monitoring camera 1000.

7103 denotes a transaction of a create profile command. As a result ofthis command, the client apparatus 2000 creates a new media profile 6100in the monitoring camera 1000 and obtains a profile token of the newmedia profile 6100.

7104, 7105, and 7016 denote transactions of an add video sourceconfiguration command, an add video encoder configuration command, andan add PTZ configuration command, respectively. As a result of thesecommands, the client apparatus 2000 associates the followingconfigurations with a specified media profile. That is, theconfigurations associated with the media profile by these commands are adesired video source configuration, video encoder configuration, and PTZconfiguration.

7107 denotes a transaction of a get stream URI command. As a result ofthis command, the client apparatus 2000 obtains an address (URI) forenabling the monitoring camera 1000 to obtain a distributed stream onthe basis of the settings of the specified media profile.

7108 denotes a transaction of a describe command. By executing thiscommand using the URI obtained in 7107, the client apparatus 2000requests and obtains information regarding content distributed by themonitoring camera 1000 as a stream.

7109 denotes a transaction of a setup command. By executing this commandusing the URI obtained in 7107, a method for transmitting a streamincluding a session number is shared between the client apparatus 2000and the monitoring camera 1000.

7110 denotes a transaction of a play command. By executing this commandusing the session number obtained in 7109, the client apparatus 2000requests the monitoring camera 1000 to begin the stream.

7111 denotes a distributed stream. The monitoring camera 1000distributes the stream requested to begin in 7110 using the transmissionmethod shared in 7109.

7112 denotes a transaction of a teardown command. By executing thiscommand using the session number obtained in 7109, the client apparatus2000 requests the monitoring camera 1000 to stop the stream.

FIG. 6A illustrates a typical command sequence for setting a maskbetween the monitoring camera 1000 and the client apparatus 2000according to this embodiment.

7200 denotes a transaction of a get privacy masks command. The getprivacy masks command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to send back privacy masks 6105.The privacy masks 6015 to be send back here are all the plurality ofprivacy masks 6105 associated with the specified video sourceconfiguration 6102 illustrated in FIG. 3A. A privacy mask 6105 isparameters that define the position and the size of a mask set on animage.

7201 denotes a transaction of a create privacy mask command. The createprivacy mask command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to create a privacy mask 6105. As aresult of this command, the privacy mask 6105 is created while beingassociated with the specified video source configuration 6102. That is,the create privacy mask command causes the monitoring camera 1000 tocreate a privacy mask, which is parameters that define a mask, whileassociating the privacy mask with the video source configuration, whichis a setting used by the monitoring camera 1000 to distribute an image.The privacy mask 6105 is parameters that define the position and thesize of a mask set on an image. By executing the create privacy maskcommand, the monitoring camera 1000 sends back a privacy mask token ofthe generated privacy mask to the client apparatus 2000. The storageunit 1002 holds a set position at which a mask image is superimposedupon a captured image as a privacy mask parameter. In addition, thestorage unit 1002 holds one of the specified video sourceconfigurations.

7202 denotes a transaction of get privacy mask options command. The getprivacy mask options command is a command by which the client apparatus2000 instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to send back a selected rangeor options of each parameter of the privacy mask 6105. As a result ofthis command, the selected range or the options of each parameter of theprivacy mask 6105 that may be selected using a modify privacy mask,which will be described later, is sent back. The privacy mask 6105 isparameters that define the position and the size of a mask set on animage. Thus, the get privacy mask options command is a command forobtaining settable options of a privacy mask, which is parameters thatdefine a mask.

7203 denotes a transaction of a get privacy mask command. The getprivacy mask command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to send back a privacy mask 6105including a specified privacy mask token. As a result of this command,the privacy mask 6105 including the specified privacy mask tokenassociated with the specified video source configuration 6102 is sentback. The privacy mask 6105 is parameters that define the position andthe size of a mask set on an image.

7204 denotes a transaction of a modify privacy mask command. The modifyprivacy mask command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to edit each parameter included inthe privacy mask 6105. By executing the modify privacy mask command, themonitoring camera 1000 edits the content of the privacy mask 6105including the privacy mask token specified by the client apparatus 2000.As a result, the monitoring camera 1000 newly displays a mask or changesthe color, the size, or the position of a mask that is being displayed.The privacy mask 6105 is parameters that define the position and thesize of a mask set on an image. Details of processing of this command inthe monitoring camera 1000 will be described later. In this embodiment,the modify privacy mask command is a first command that includes thespecified information (token) regarding the video source configurationand the superimposition information (mask 5004) and that instructssuperimposition of a mask image upon a captured image. The mask 5004 issuperimposition information indicating a position at which a mask imageis superimposed upon an image to be distributed generated on the basisof one of the video source configurations.

In this embodiment, the monitoring camera 1000 receives a second command(set video source configuration command) for causing the storage unit tohold settings specified by the client independently of the firstcommand.

7205 denotes a transaction of a delete privacy mask command. The deleteprivacy mask command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to delete a privacy mask 6105created as a result of the create privacy mask command. By executing thedelete privacy mask command, the monitoring camera 1000 deletes aprivacy mask 6105 including a privacy mask token specified by the clientapparatus 2000 from a storage unit 1002. A privacy mask 6105 isparameters that define the position and the size of a mask set on animage.

FIG. 9 illustrates a relationship between the following. In FIG. 9, theentirety of movable ranges 5012 and 5013 of the pan mechanism and thetilt mechanisms, respectively, the entirety of a visible range 5000, andimage data 5001 output from the image capture unit 1003 at a certainzoom magnification in the monitoring camera 1000 according to thisembodiment are included. Furthermore, in FIG. 9, an image to bedistributed 5002 extracted using the bounds included in the video sourceconfiguration 6102 and the mask 5004 specified by the privacy mask 6105are included.

The bounds are parameters that specify the height, the width, and thelower-left point of the image to be distributed 5002 in the image data5001 using pixels. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the mask 5004 according tothis embodiment is specified using three or more points plotted in anormalized coordinate system normalized to −1.0 to +1.0 in a horizontaldirection (x) and a vertical direction (y) in the image to bedistributed 5002 extracted using the bounds. The mask 5004 issuperimposition information indicating a position at which a mask imageis superimposed upon an image to be distributed generated on the basisof one of the video source configurations.

5014 denotes a central point of the image data 5001 specified by a PTZposition, the image data being output from the image capture unit 1003,and represented by a coordinate system specified by the PTZconfiguration 6104. In this embodiment, the entirety of the ranges ofthe pan mechanism and the tilt mechanism are a normalized coordinatesystem normalized to −1.0 to +1.0 in a horizontal direction (x) 5010 anda vertical direction (y) 5011.

FIG. 10 illustrates the procedure of a process performed when themonitoring camera 1000 has received the modify privacy mask command fromthe client apparatus 2000. This procedure is part of a program read fromthe storage unit 1002 and executed by the control unit 1001, which is acomputer. The storage unit 1002 is a storage medium that stores thisprogram so that the control unit 1001, which is a computer, may read andexecute the program.

In step S1000, the control unit 1001 determines whether or not a privacymask 6105 including a privacy mask token specified in the receivedcommand exists in the storage unit 1002. If the privacy mask 6105exists, the control unit 1001 causes the process to proceed to stepS1060.

In step S1001, the control unit 1001 checks whether or not the maskincluded in the privacy mask 6105 is correctly set. For example, thecontrol unit 1001 determines whether or not three or more points areincluded and whether or not each point is plotted in the image to bedistributed 5002 in the normalized coordinate system defined by thebounds denoted by 5002 in FIG. 9. If the mask included in the privacymask 6105 is not correctly set, the control unit 1001 causes the processto proceed to step S1060.

In step S1002, the control unit 1001 determines whether or not a videosource configuration specified in the received command exists in thestorage unit 1002. Whether or not the video source configuration existsis determined on the basis of whether or not a video sourceconfiguration including a video source configuration token specified inthe command exists in the storage unit 1002. If the video sourceconfiguration does not exist, the control unit 1001 causes the processto proceed to step S1060.

In step S1003, the control unit 1001 causes the storage unit 1002 storethe privacy mask specified in the received command.

In step S1004, the control unit 1001 reads the bounds from the videosource configuration 6102 including the video source configuration tokenspecified by the client apparatus 2000. The video source configuration6102 including the video source configuration token specified by theclient apparatus 2000 is stored in the storage unit 1002.

In step S1005, the control unit 1001 reads the resolution from a videosource 6101 linked to (associated with) the video source configuration6102 specified in the received command. The video source 6101 is linkedto (associated with) the video source configuration 6102 including thevideo source configuration token specified in the received command.

In step S1006, the control unit 1001 calculates the position of a pixelof each point of the mask in the resolution on the basis of the boundsread in step S1004 and the resolution read in step S1005. In doing so,the control unit 1001 sets a position at which a mask image issuperimposed upon a captured image on the basis of one of the videosource configurations and the received superimposition information (mask5004).

In step S1008, the control unit 1001 determines whether or not the PTZdesignation is specified in the received command. If the PTZ designationis specified, the control unit 1001 causes the process to proceed tostep S1009. If PTZ designation is not specified, the control unit 1001causes the process to proceed to step S1050.

In step S1009, the control unit 1001 reads a coordinate system definedby pan, tilt, and zoom from a PTZ configuration 6104 identified by a PTZconfiguration token specified in the PTZ designation. In thisembodiment, the coordinate system is a normalized coordinate system inwhich the entirety of the ranges of the pan mechanism and the tiltmechanism are normalized to −1.0 to +1.0 in the horizontal direction (x)5010 and the vertical direction (y) 5011. The media profile 6100 is heldby the storage unit 1002. The control unit 1001 converts the values ofpan, tilt, and zoom included in a PTZ position specified in the PTZdesignation into the values of pan angle, tilt angle, and zoommagnification on the basis of the coordinate system.

On the other hand, in step S1050, the control unit 1001 obtains thecurrent values of pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom magnification from theimage capture control unit 1006.

In step S1011, the control unit 1001 executes a process for displaying amask (details are omitted) using the following three as arguments. Thatis, the first argument is the positions of the pixels of the mask in theresolution calculated in step S1006. The second argument is the valuesof pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom magnification obtained in step S1009or step S1050. The third argument is the state of the enabled flagincluded in the received command. The control unit 1001 sets theposition at which the mask image is superimposed in the image capturepossible range on the basis of one of the video source configurations,the superimposition information indicating the position at which themask image is superimposed upon an image to be distributed generated onthe basis of the one of the video source configurations, and the PTZpositional information.

In the process for displaying a mask, the control unit 1001 inputs thearguments received in step S1011 to the mask processing unit 1007. Asdescribed above, the mask processing unit 1007 provides a mask for animage to be distributed on the basis of the input data and the latestvalues of pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom magnification. The controlunit 1001 sets a mask image on an image using the media profile, whichis media attribute information including the video source configuration.

In step S1012, the control unit 1001 executes a process for transmittinga normal response (details are omitted). In the process for transmittinga normal response, the control unit 1001 transmits a normal response tothe client apparatus 2000 through the communication unit 1004 inresponse to the received command.

In step S1060, the control unit 1001 executes a process for transmittingan error response (details are omitted). In the process for transmittingan error response, the control unit 1001 transmits an error response tothe client apparatus 2000 through the communication unit 1004 inresponse to the received command.

According to the process for setting a mask according to this embodimentdescribed above, the monitoring camera 1000 is able to hold parametersfor realizing a mask processing function in accordance with a commonstandard established by the ONVIF. In addition, the client apparatus2000 that supports the common standard established by the ONVIF is ableto set the mask processing function, which is an advantageous effect.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed with reference to a security camera that holds a privacy mask,which is parameters for the mask processing function, while associatingthe privacy mask with the video source configuration.

In the first embodiment, however, since the privacy mask is held as aunique parameter, a plurality of dedicated commands for handling theprivacy mask including the create privacy mask command are newlyrequired, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, themask processing function may be realized in the following manner. Thatis, a known command that handles the video source configuration may beused by holding the privacy mask as parameters belonging to the videosource configuration. A second embodiment of the present invention thattakes into consideration the above point will be described hereinafter.It is to be noted that description of the same components as thoseaccording to the first embodiment is omitted.

FIG. 3B illustrates the structure of parameters held by a monitoringcamera (image capture apparatus) 1000 according to this embodiment.

A video source configuration 6200 is a group of parameters thatassociate a video source 6101 included in the monitoring camera with amedia profile 6100. The video source configuration 6200 includes boundsthat specify a portion of image data output from the video source 6101to be extracted and used as an image to be distributed. Details of thebounds will be described later. The video source configuration 6200 alsoincludes a privacy mask 6201.

The privacy mask 6201 is a group of parameters that hold a list ofparameters relating to a mask. The privacy mask 6201 includes a name,which is the name of the privacy mask, a mask, which specifies theposition and the size of the mask at three or more points using apolygon, and an enabled flag, which specifies whether or not to displaythe mask on an image to be distributed. Furthermore, the privacy mask6201 includes a color, which specifies the color of the mask, and PTZdesignation, which identifies the position of a pan head. Thus, theprivacy mask, which is parameters that define the position and the sizeof a mask set on an image, is held as parameters belonging to the videosource configuration, which is a setting used by the monitoring camerato distribute an image.

FIG. 7A illustrates a typical command sequence for setting a maskbetween the monitoring camera 1000 and a client apparatus 2000 accordingto this embodiment.

7250 denotes a transaction of a get video source configuration command.The get video source configuration command is a command by which theclient apparatus 2000 instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to send backthe video source configuration. The get video source configurationcommand causes the client apparatus 2000 to obtain editable options ofthe parameters that define the position and the size of a mask set on animage. As a result of this command, all video source configurationsincluding the privacy mask 6201 illustrated in FIG. 3A are sent back.

7251 denotes a transaction of get video source configuration optionscommand. The get video source configuration options command is a commandby which the client apparatus 2000 issues the following instructions tothe monitoring camera 1000. One of the instructions is an instruction tosend back a selection range or options of each parameter of the videosource configuration 6200 that may be set by a set video sourceconfiguration command, which will be described later. Another of theinstructions is an instruction to send back a selection range or optionsof each parameter of the privacy mask 6201 included in the video sourceconfiguration 6200. The get video source configuration options commandcauses the client apparatus 2000 to obtain settable options of theparameters that define the position and the size of a mask set on animage. As described above, the get video source configuration optionscommand is a command for obtaining settable options of the parametersthat define the position and the size of a mask set on an image.

7252 denotes a transaction of a set video source configuration command.The set video source configuration command is a second command forcausing a storage unit to hold settings specified by the client. The setvideo source configuration command is a command by which the clientapparatus 2000 issues the following instruction to the monitoring camera1000. That is, the instruction is an instruction to edit the videosource configuration 6200 and the parameters of the privacy mask 6201included in the video source configuration 6200. By executing the setvideo source configuration, the monitoring camera 1000 edits the contentof a privacy mask 6201 specified by the client apparatus 2000. As aresult of the editing, the monitoring camera 1000 newly displays a maskor changes the color, the size, or the position of a mask that is beingdisplayed. Thus, the set video source configuration command causes themonitoring camera 1000 to create, edit, or delete the parameters thatdefine the position and the size of a mask set on an image. Details ofprocessing of this command in the monitoring camera 1000 will bedescribed later. The monitoring camera 1000 according to the secondembodiment receives specification information and superimpositioninformation included in the command (set video source configurationcommand) for causing a storage unit 1002 to hold settings specified bythe client. In this embodiment, the specification information isinformation for specifying a video source configuration to be set. Inaddition, in this embodiment, the superimposition information isinformation that specifies editing of the content of a privacy mask6201.

The storage unit 1002 holds a position at which a mask image issuperimposed upon a captured image while including the position in aspecified video source configuration.

FIG. 11 illustrates a process performed when the monitoring camera 1000has received the above-described set video source configuration commandfrom the client apparatus 2000. In this process, description of asetting process relating to parameters other than the privacy mask 6201included in the video source configuration 6200 is omitted. In addition,processing relating to steps S1001 to S1060 is the same as thatillustrated in FIG. 10, and accordingly description thereof is omitted.

In step S1104, the control unit 1001 reads the bounds from a videosource configuration that is being subjected to the setting process.

In step S1105, the control unit 1001 reads the resolution from a videosource 6101 linked to (associated with) the video source configuration6200 specified in the received command. The specified video sourceconfiguration 6200 is a video source configuration 6200 including avideo source configuration token specified in the received command.

The control unit 1001 sets a mask on an image to be distributed using amedia profile, which is media attribute information including the videosource configuration.

According to the above-described mask setting process according to thisembodiment, the monitoring camera 1000 is able to cause the clientapparatus 2000 that supports the common standard established by theONVIF to set the mask processing function without adding a new command,which is an advantageous effect.

Third Embodiment

In the first and second embodiments, embodiments of the presentinvention have been described with reference to security cameras thathold a privacy mask, which is parameters for the mask processingfunction, while associating the privacy mask with the video sourceconfiguration.

Although, however, the privacy mask is held as parameters belonging tothe video source configuration in the first and second embodiment, thepresent invention is not limited to this. Presence or absence of aprivacy mask may be changed for each media profile by holding theprivacy mask while associating the privacy mask with each media profile,instead.

A third embodiment of the present invention that takes intoconsideration the above point will be described hereinafter. It is to benoted that description of the same components as those according to thefirst embodiment is omitted.

FIG. 4A illustrates the structure of parameters held by a monitoringcamera 1000 according to this embodiment.

A privacy mask 6301 is a group of parameters that hold a list ofparameters relating to a mask. The privacy mask 6301 includes a privacymask token, which is an ID of the privacy mask 6301 and a name, which isthe name of a privacy mask construction. Furthermore, the privacy mask6301 includes a mask, which specifies the position and the size of themask at three or more points using a polygon, an enabled flag, whichspecifies whether or not to display the mask on an image to bedistributed, and a color, which specifies the color of the mask.Furthermore, the privacy mask 6301 includes PTZ designation, whichidentifies the position of a pan head. The privacy mask 6301 may beadded to a media profile 6100 by an add privacy mask command, which willbe described later. In addition, the privacy mask 6301 may be removedfrom a media profile 6100 by a remove privacy mask command, which willbe described later. A mask process by the privacy mask 6301 is performedonly on an image to be distributed using a media profile 6100 added bythe add privacy mask command.

FIG. 7B illustrates a typical command sequence for setting a maskbetween the monitoring camera 1000 and a client apparatus 2000 accordingto this embodiment.

7301 denotes a transaction of a get privacy masks command. The getprivacy masks command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to send back all a plurality ofprivacy masks 6301. That is, the get privacy masks command is a commandfor obtaining the plurality of privacy masks 6301.

7302 denotes a transaction of an add privacy mask command. The addprivacy mask command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to add a privacy mask 6301 to aspecified media profile 6100. That is, the add privacy mask command is acommand for adding a privacy mask, which is parameters that define amask, to a media profile, which is media attribute information.

7303 denotes a transaction of a get privacy mask command. The getprivacy mask command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to send back a privacy mask 6301including a specified privacy mask token. That is, the get privacy maskis a command for obtaining a certain privacy mask.

7304 denotes a transaction of a modify privacy mask command. The modifyprivacy masks command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to edit each parameter included ina privacy mask 6301. By executing the modify privacy mask, themonitoring camera 1000 edits the content of a privacy mask 6301including a privacy mask token specified by the client apparatus 2000.As a result of the editing, the monitoring camera 1000 newly displays amask or changes the color, the size, or the position of a mask that isbeing displayed. Details of processing of this command in the monitoringcamera 1000 will be described later.

7305 denotes a transaction of a remove privacy mask command. The removeprivacy mask command is a command by which the client apparatus 2000instructs the monitoring camera 1000 to remove a privacy mask 6301 froma specified media profile 6100. By executing the remove privacy maskcommand, the privacy mask 6301 enters a state in which the privacy mask6301 is not added to any media profile 6100. That is, the remove privacymask command is a command for removing a privacy mask, which isparameters that define a mask, from the media profile.

FIG. 12 illustrates a process performed when the monitoring camera(image capture apparatus) 1000 has received the set privacy mask commandfrom the client apparatus 2000. In this process, processing relating tosteps S1001 to S1060 is the same as that illustrated in FIG. 10, andaccordingly description thereof is omitted. The set privacy mask commandis a command for holding a privacy mask, which is parameters that definea mask, as independent parameters in the monitoring camera 1000 andediting the parameters.

In step S1204, the control unit 1001 reads the bounds from a videosource configuration 6102 that includes the privacy mask and that hasbeen added to the media profile 6100.

In step S1105, the control unit 1001 reads the resolution from a videosource 6101 linked to (associated with) the video source configuration6102. The video source configuration 6102 is a video sourceconfiguration 6102 that includes the privacy mask and that has beenadded to the media profile 6100.

The control unit 1001 sets a mask on an image to be distributed usingthe media profile 6100 to which the privacy mask 6301, which isparameters that define a mask, has been added.

According to the above-described mask setting process according to thisembodiment, the monitoring camera 1000 is able to hold parameters thatrealize the mask processing function in accordance with the commonstandard established by the ONVIF as with the first and secondembodiments. In addition, the client apparatus 2000 is able to selectwhether or not to add the mask process for each media profile, which isan advantageous effect.

Fourth Embodiment

In the third embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed with reference to a security camera that holds a privacy mask,which is parameters for the mask processing function, while associatingthe privacy mask with a media profile.

Although, however, the privacy mask is held while being associated withthe video source configuration, the media profile, or the like in thefirst to third embodiments, the present invention is not limited tothis. The privacy mask may be held by the monitoring camera 1000 asindependent parameters, instead.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention that takes intoconsideration the above point will be described hereinafter. It is to benoted that description of the same components as those according to thefirst, second, and third embodiments is omitted.

FIG. 4B illustrates the structure of parameters held by a monitoringcamera (image capture apparatus) 1000 according to this embodiment.

A privacy mask 6400 is a group of parameters that hold a list ofparameters relating to a mask. The privacy mask 6400 includes a privacymask token, which is an ID of the privacy mask 6400, a name, which isthe name of a privacy mask construction, and a mask, which specifies theposition and the size of the mask at three or more points using apolygon. The privacy mask 6400 includes an enabled flag, which specifieswhether or not to display the mask on an image to be distributed, acolor, which specifies the color of the mask, and PTZ designation, whichidentifies the position of a pan head. The privacy mask 6400 is valid inall images to be distributed streamed from the monitoring camera 1000,and display or non-display of a mask is controlled by the enabled flagin a modify privacy mask command. Thus, a privacy mask, which isparameters that define a mask, is held by the monitoring camera 1000 asindependent parameters.

A storage unit 1002 according to this embodiment may hold a plurality ofvideo source configurations.

FIG. 8 illustrates a typical command sequence for setting a mask betweenthe monitoring camera 1000 and the client apparatus 2000 according tothis embodiment. Each transaction is as described above.

A get privacy mask options command is a command for obtaining settableoptions of a privacy mask, which is parameters that define a mask. A getprivacy mask command is a command for obtaining a certain privacy mask.A modify privacy masks command is a command for editing a privacy mask,which is parameters that define a mask.

In addition, a create privacy mask command is a command for creating aprivacy mask, which is parameters that define a mask. A delete privacymasks command is a command for deleting a privacy mask, which isparameters that define a mask. A get privacy masks command is a commandfor obtaining all a plurality of privacy masks.

A control unit 1001 sets masks on all images to be distributed from themonitoring camera 1000. For example, when the storage unit 1002 holds aplurality of sets of video source configurations, the control unit 1001sets masks on a plurality of images to be distributed generated inaccordance with the plurality of sets of video source configurations.

According to the above-described process for setting a mask according tothis embodiment, the monitoring camera 1000 is able to hold parametersthat realize the mask processing function in accordance with the commonstandard established by the ONVIF as with the first, second, and thirdembodiments. In addition, the mask process may be applied to all imagesto be distributed from the monitoring camera 1000 regardless of allmedia settings relating to a media profile, which is an advantageouseffect.

Although the operations of the security cameras on which the presentinvention is mounted and the application programs have been described inthe first to fourth embodiments, embodiments are not necessarily limitedto the above-described embodiments, and part of the above-describedembodiments may be modified. That is:

(1) Although the mask processing unit 1007 uses the pan angle, the tiltangle, the zoom magnification, and the positions of pixels of a mask inthe image capture range of the image capture unit 1003 in thecorresponding pan, tilt, and zoom states as input information, thepresent invention is not limited to this. The input information may bemodified insofar as the amount of information is large enough touniquely identify the position of a mask in accordance with the functionof the mask processing unit. For example, with respect to the pan andtilt angles, coordinate values may be input instead of angles.Alternatively, a mask processing unit 1007 that does not allow input ofthe pan angle, the tilt angle, and the zoom magnification from theoutside and that identifies the position of a mask on the basis of onlythe current position of the image capture unit 1003 may be used. In thiscase, the PTZ designation cannot be specified from the client apparatus2000.(2) Although a privacy mask is associated with a video sourceconfiguration when the privacy mask is created by the create privacymask command in the first embodiment, the present invention is notlimited to this. The create privacy mask command need not receive avideo source configuration token as an argument, and, for example,another command such as the add privacy mask command may associate aprivacy mask with a video source configuration.(3) Although the parameters are configured such that masks are appliedto all images to be distributed regardless of the settings of a mediaprofile in the fourth embodiment, the present invention is not limitedto this. In a modification, a parameter that receives a media profiletoken of a media profile for distributing an image without applying amask, a stream URI, or user information is supported in a privacy mask.In addition, in the modification, a mask is not provided for an image tobe distributed that satisfies the parameter. That is, a privacy mask,which is parameters that define a mask, further holds an exceptiondistribution parameter that defines a distribution method in which themask process is not performed, and an image to be distributed specifiedby the exception distribution parameter is not subjected to the maskprocess.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention may be realized by a computer ofa system or an apparatus that reads and executes a computer-executablecommand recorded on a recording medium (for example, a computer-readablestorage apparatus that does not perform temporary recording). Byexecuting the command using the computer, at least one of theabove-described embodiments of the present invention is realized.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention may be realizedusing a method executed by a computer of a system or an apparatus. Forexample, at least one of the above-described embodiments of the presentinvention is realized by reading a computer-executable command from arecording medium.

The computer may be configured by one or more central processing units(CPUs), microprocessing units (MPUs), or other circuits. Alternatively,the computer may be configured by a separated computer network or aseparated computer processor.

The computer-executable command is, for example, provided for thecomputer through a network or from the recording medium. The recordingmedium may be, for example, one or more hard disks, random-accessmemories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), distributed storages of acomputing system, optical disks (for example, compact discs (CDs),digital versatile discs (DVDs), or Blu-ray Discs (BDs) (registeredtrademark)), flash memories, memory cards, or the like.

According to the transmission apparatus in the present invention, animage capture apparatus, a method for capturing an image, and arecording medium that are suitable to superimpose a mask image upon acaptured image using camera parameters used for generating the capturedimage and parameters for setting a mask are provided.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

1. A network camera apparatus that captures an image and transmits adistribution image, to a reception apparatus, the network cameraapparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive, from thereception apparatus, an enable flag indicating whether a privacy mask isdisplayed on the distribution image or not and receive information on aposition of the privacy mask; an acquisition unit configured to acquirea set of values of current panning and tilting angles of the networkcamera apparatus; a setting unit configured to set a position of theprivacy mask in the distribution image, based on the receivedinformation on the position of the privacy mask and the acquired set ofthe parameter values of the current panning and tilting angles of thenetwork camera apparatus; and a transmission unit configured to transmitthe distribution image with the privacy mask to the reception apparatusin a case where the received enable flag indicates the privacy mask isdisplayed on the distribution image, and transmit the distribution imagewithout the privacy mask to the reception apparatus in a case where thereceived enable flag indicates the privacy mask is not displayed on thedistribution image.
 2. The network camera apparatus according to claim1, wherein the receiving unit further receives a command for designatinga color of the privacy mask.
 3. A method for capturing an image andtransmitting a distribution image using a network camera apparatus, to areception apparatus, the method comprising: receiving, from thereception apparatus, an enable flag indicating whether a privacy mask isdisplayed on the distribution image or not and receive information on aposition of the privacy mask; acquiring a set of values of currentpanning and tilting angles of the network camera apparatus; setting aposition of the privacy mask in the distribution image, based on thereceived information on the position of the privacy mask and theacquired set of the parameter values of the current panning and tiltingangles of the network camera apparatus; and transmitting thedistribution image with the privacy mask to the reception apparatus in acase where the received enable flag indicates the privacy mask isdisplayed on the distribution image, and transmit the distribution imagewithout the privacy mask to the reception apparatus in a case where thereceived enable flag indicates the privacy mask is not displayed on thedistribution image.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein acommand for designating a color of the privacy mask is received.
 5. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program forcausing a computer to execute a method for capturing an image andtransmitting a distribution image using a network camera apparatus, to areception apparatus, the method comprising: receiving, from thereception apparatus, an enable flag indicating whether a privacy mask isdisplayed on the distribution image or not and receive information on aposition of the privacy mask; acquiring a set of values of currentpanning and tilting angles of the network camera apparatus; setting aposition of the privacy mask in the distribution image, based on thereceived information on the position of the privacy mask and theacquired set of the parameter values of the current panning and tiltingangles of the network camera apparatus; and transmitting thedistribution image with the privacy mask to the reception apparatus in acase where the received enable flag indicates the privacy mask isdisplayed on the distribution image, and transmit the distribution imagewithout the privacy mask to the reception apparatus in a case where thereceived enable flag indicates the privacy mask is not displayed on thedistribution image.
 6. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium according to claim 5, wherein a command for designating a colorof the privacy mask is received.